Resume Reviews & Why You Should Get One!

Getting your resume reviewed is crucial in today's competitive job market. A second set of eyes never hurts and can also help with figuring out whether or not your resume is appropriate for the job you are applying for. However, many neglect this step in the resume editing process. Why? Because many of us don't have the time! Job hunting can take hours and writing personalized cover letters and tailoring your resume can be a job within itself! Luckily, most post secondary institutions (including Brock!!) offer review services to make sure your documents are looking good before you start applying to different positions. Here are THREE reasons you should utilize resume review services:

1. Subjectivity 
When we as individuals are working on and editing our resumes, we often times overlook obvious errors simply because we are being subjective. Perhaps we might even avoid being too hard on ourselves since the job market is hard enough sometimes! But this subjectivity can lead to missing things which could make or break the strength of an application! Spelling errors, typos and alignment are the three most common errors made when creating resumes. Getting a quick review can help prevent a small mistake from costing you the job of your dreams.

2. Content
Many of us have the standard categories in our resumes: Work Experience, Volunteer Experience & Education. However, there are many other categories which can be utilized! Getting your resume reviewed may open your eyes to new headings you can utilize to highlight your experiences! For example, having a "Special Skills" section is a great way to highlight language and technical skills. 

3. Opportunities
If you are working on your resume right now, chances are it is because you are looking for paid or volunteer opportunities. By getting your resume reviewed, you can not only ensure you are representing your skills and experiences in the best way possible, but you can also find out about opportunities through simply visiting a career centre! Our Career Assistant team at Brock is super knowledgeable about current and upcoming opportunities and we love helping students find that perfect position that suits their unique needs!

So what are you waiting for? Look up your nearest career resource centre and get your resume reviewed today! And for all Brock students, getting a resume review is MUCH easier than you think! Simply bring a hard copy of your resume (or cover letter or CV!) to the Career Resource Centre in the Learning Commons and we can review it in roughly 15-20 minutes! We are also FULL of information about job hunting, interviews, career events and much more! Check out our website by clicking HERE. Also, don't forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brockcareerserv/
Twitter: twitter.com/BrockCareerServ
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brockcareerserv/?hl=en

Have a great day!

Scarlet Stark
Sr. Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

Twitter & Facebook for Job Searching

For many, social media is just a means to keep in touch with friends and family and a way to share photos, jokes, and memories. But for others, social media is also a way to find employment opportunities. From Twitter to Facebook, using social media to job search is not only quick and easy, but it also allows you to tap into the hidden job market to find the opportunities that others don't know about who aren't using social media in this way.

The key factor to utilizing social media to job search is to make the right connections. So, as an example, if you are a psychology major like myself, liking or following the American Psychological Association (APA) could lead to knowing about job opportunities within that association. This goes for almost every area of interest or expertise; there will always be an association you can like or follow in order to stay in the loop with upcoming or current opportunities. Our Degree Exploration Guides are a great resource to help you figure out who to follow within your field. 

There are also more general ways to seek out employment opportunities using social media. Many job search companies and organizations have created pages on social media and post employment opportunities constantly. Here are a few companies and organizations to like and/or follow to help get you started:


Brock Career Services
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brockcareerserv
Twitter: @BrockCareerServ

Indeed
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Indeed?fref=ts
Twitter: @Indeed

Job Bank
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Job-Bank/22724568071?fref=ts
Twitter: @JobBank_GC

Monster
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Monsterca?fref=ts
Twitter: @Monster

Workopolis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workopolis?fref=ts
Twitter: @Workopolis

Glassdoor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glassdoor?fref=ts
Twitter: @Glassdoor

Before you know it, your news feed will be full of job opportunities! Just remember that if you utilize social media for job searching, you'll want to make sure that all the content available about yourself is professional. Read last weeks blog for some tips on how to clean up your social media in order to make a good first impression! Thanks for reading!

Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major

Alternative Paths for New Grads!

Convocation week has just ended here at Brock which means it's time for a blog about alternatives after graduation. For most, the expectation is that they will slide into a career right away and start working full-time. For others, this expectation may not be attainable or ideal. If working full-time right after you graduate isn't your plan, there are many alternate routes that can be taken! Here are 4 different paths to take after graduation that don't involve working full-time, but are guaranteed to give you some practical knowledge while still being a fun learning experience!

1. Go Abroad

Why not skip out before that cold Canada winter comes and head overseas? With so many different work, internship, and volunteer opportunities, your time abroad can be more than just a fun vacation, but can double as a way to gain professional experience while becoming more culturally knowledgeable. Going Global, accessible through Careerzone for Brock students & alumni, has thousands of opportunities overseas, ranging from work to internships to volunteering, in a vast number of countries, from the US to Italy and even Finland! They even provide detailed city guides so you'll know all the logistics, like the cost of living, visa and embassy information, and how to fit in with the local culture.Other sites like Go Abroad also offer valuable resources and information on working, interning, or volunteering abroad. 

2. Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to dip your foot in the pool without fully committing yourself so to speak. For example, if working with kids has always been fun for you but your not sure if you want a career in that field, spending a few hours a week volunteering might help you realize if this is the right path for you. Along with being able to try new things, volunteering allows you to network with other professionals, gives you extra experience to add to your resume, and is extremely rewarding, especially when the volunteer opportunity is something you are passionate about. Directories like 211 Ontario offer endless information about foundations and organizations who regularly take volunteers so the opportunities are truly endless. Also, if there is a specific place you would like to volunteer, a quick google search should give you the information to find out about volunteering there and what it would entail.  

3. Intern

Another great way to gain some practical experience that doesn't require a major commitment is through internship opportunities. Much like volunteering, many internships do not require the same amount of time or commitment that a full-time job would, but will allow you to get a feel for the industry and whether or not it's something you wish to pursue further. Internships are also a great way for entry level grads to break into the field! CareerEdge is a great program which offers paid internships to students looking for their big chance to shine! Even the Ontario government offers a paid internship program! 

4. Part-Time Jobs

If the thought of going right from graduation to full-time work is daunting, why not start with working part-time? This will allow you to gain experience and make money, all the while allowing you time to explore other opportunities simultaneously. Maybe you'll work 20 hours a week and volunteer for 10 hours. Or maybe you'll see that the part-time job you took isn't for you and take on another to explore different industries. Whatever it is you decide, part-time work opportunities are plentiful and are a great way to get your feet wet! Be sure to utilize advanced search options on websites like Careerzone, Indeed, Monster, and Eluta (to name a few) which will allow you to narrow down these part-time opportunities with ease!

So don't feel like you are limited if working full-time after graduation isn't the right path for you! As you can see, other opportunities are available and are just a few clicks away!


Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

Niagara Artists Centre: STRUTT Call for Submissions!

In Niagara we are lucky to have a great community that loves art and culture! The Niagara Artists Centre is a part of that community and they are looking to help artists show their wearable art this year! If you are studying Visual Arts or you are a graduate from Visual Arts you can appreciate this opportunity that NAC is offering.

Currently, I am going into my third year of Visual Arts, concentrating in Intermedia and Design. I know I want to take my career in a direction that uses the applications of other media to impact lives. Opportunities like this one help me discover how I can do that. It also builds up great experience on your resume and in your portfolio! Another great thing about not only showing your work but also just attending the event! Attending the event is a great way to network with other artists and professionals and gain connections within this community. You can learn a lot from talking with someone who has had years of experience within this field.

If you are living in Niagara and has a passionate interest in wearable art and transforming the human body then check out this website for more information about submissions: http://www.nac.org/calls-for-submissions/strutt-wearable-art-runway-show/

Below are some photos from STRUTT 2013

Making Career Decisions

Making career-related decisions can be one of the most challenging aspects of the career planning process. There are various factors you should consider when making such decisions. Our friends at Cosmic Coaching Centre wrote a great article for us with some important things to keep in mind:

Making Decisions about Your Career

Choosing a career is one of the biggest decisions we have to make in our lives. In fact, this decision of ours may determine the quality of life we are going to have, not only in terms of our finances, but also when it comes how satisfied we are with our lives. With that said, it is just right that we think a thousand times before deciding on which career path to take. This isn’t going to be an easy process, though, but if you could keep your focus on what really matters, you are likely to find the career that would suit you perfectly.

Factors to Consider in Making a Career Decision

Required educational level. Jobs may vary significantly in terms of the educational level required from job applicants. So if you don’t feel like going to school for 4 years to earn a degree, you may as well find a career that requires less. Take into consideration also the long-term education you may be required to have to retain your license.

Passion. This factor is often neglected by those who are merely after the security and financial stability a career can offer. But you have to understand that for you to stay long in a job, you need to be happy doing it. This is only possible if you use your passion as a basis of your career choice.

Skills and abilities. It’s good that you are passionate about something, but this passion won’t be enough to make you successful in your career. It is equally important that you have the skills and abilities required by the job. To know if you have what it takes to succeed in a particular job, use various skills assessment tools to test yourself. The results of such test will help you determine which skills you need to enhance more in order to be qualified for your desired career.

Personal life. If you are a fresh graduate, it won’t be that hard for you to choose a career that’s demanding, especially of your time. But for those who have families of their own, choosing a career is a bit more complicated. This is because conflict of interest is inevitable. If you are put in the second situation, you must seriously consider the demands of the job you’re going to get. You also have to be ready for however it may affect your personal life and relationships.

Career advancement opportunities. Ultimately, it is your goal to excel in your field. This means that you would be dedicated and committed enough to deserve a promotion perhaps. So when deciding among your career options, take a look at the opportunities for advancement that a certain career offers. This way, you may set your mind into achieving a higher career goal.

Career Services has several resources that can help you make these decisions, including career assessments like Career Cruising and Type Focus. These can be accessed for free through CareerZone!

 Also, check out the Occupational Research section of our website for directories and databases that have tons of information needed to inform these vital decisions!

Once you have narrowed down your career choices, you may want to conduct some Information Interviews to make sure the career is right for you! Our Career Resource Centre has some great tips for gathering the information you need to make decisions andtranslating that information into action. Best of luck!

 

Jami Coughler, Senior Career Assistant

4th Year Public Health [Honours]; BA: Sociology [Honours] '11